BEIJING, June 12 -- Both production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China soared in May amid tepid growth of the overall auto market, industry data showed.

A total of 45,000 NEVs were sold in May, up 28.4 percent year on year, while 51,000 NEVs were produced, up 38.2 percent year on year, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed Monday.

Total auto sales remained stable, with 2.1 million vehicles sold in May, up 0.6 percent compared with that in April. The number declined 0.1 percent year on year.

Total auto production stood at 2.09 million in May, down 2.4 percent from that in April and up 0.7 percent on a year-on-year basis.